Patents Assigned to Kohler Co.
  • Publication number: 20240082856
    Abstract: A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly includes a reservoir configured to receive water from a water source and one or more outlets for passing water from the reservoir. The shower assembly also includes a plurality of shower mounting features provided in a first non-adjustable spatial orientation on the shower assembly. The mounting system is configured to couple the shower assembly to a building structure and adjust a position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure. The mounting system includes a bracket configured to be coupled to the building structure at a fixed position. The mounting system also includes a plurality of bracket mounting features provided in a second non-adjustable spatial orientation on the bracket and configured to align each of the plurality of bracket mounting features with one of the shower mounting features for coupling thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
  • Patent number: 11927588
    Abstract: An intelligent toilet that includes a toilet base having a bowl, a seat assembly comprising a seat, and a urine collection system integrated with the seat assembly, wherein the urine collection system includes an analyzer that is configured to test urine from a user and provide output health data of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Luncheak Tan, Chinghua Chen
  • Patent number: 11918113
    Abstract: A sink is provided. The sink includes a basin having a front wall. The sink includes a rim supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the front wall in a substantially horizontal orientation. The sink includes an apron extending from the rim. The apron extends vertically between a top wall and an opposing bottom wall and laterally between a first side wall and an opposing second side wall. The apron is coupled to the basin only at the top wall of the apron by the rim. The apron extends laterally outward past the rim such that a first rear edge of the first side wall and a second rear edge of the second side wall are spaced apart from the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, James S. Giefer
  • Patent number: 11920717
    Abstract: A quick connect and disconnect system for a fluid coupling includes an axially extending fitting configured to be secured to a fluid conduit, a clip, and a quick connect and disconnect adaptor. The clip is coupled to the fitting and includes a base, a wing extending from the base, and a first lug extending from the first wing. The quick connect and disconnect adaptor includes a first release tab configured to resiliently deflect through an aperture of the adaptor. The adaptor is configured to transfer a compressive force to resiliently deflect the first lug to move the clip in an axial direction from an installed position to an uninstalled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Schumacher, Ravi Kumar Rajendran, John C. Redding
  • Patent number: 11920401
    Abstract: A sliding door includes a frame and a slow close assembly. The frame is positioned along at least a portion of the sliding door and includes a protrusion configured to slide along with the sliding door. The slow close assembly is repositionable between an outward position and a compressed position. The slow close assembly includes a slow close mechanism, a spring, and a soft close latch. The slow close mechanism is laterally positioned within the slow close assembly. The spring is positioned at an end of the slow close assembly and provides an outward force onto the slow close assembly in an outward direction substantially perpendicular to the lateral direction. The soft close latch is configured to engage the protrusion as the protrusion slides along with the sliding door. The spring biases the slow close assembly into the outward position when the latch is not interfaced with the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Nameer Shaaban, Andrew McClure, Riley Baggett, James Leland Marlowe
  • Patent number: 11920329
    Abstract: A bath faucet system includes a housing, a diverter assembly, and an internal waterway. The housing forms an outer shell of the bath faucet system and includes a water inlet, a water outlet, and a cavity extending between the water inlet and the water outlet. The internal waterway is disposed within the cavity between the water inlet and the water outlet. The internal waterway includes a water jacket and a hose. The water jacket is coupled to the water inlet and configured to contain water flowing into the housing via the water inlet. The water jacket includes a hose connector along an outside surface of the water jacket. The hose includes a first end coupled to the hose connector, a second end coupled to the water outlet, and a central portion connecting the first end to the second end and configured to prevent water from contacting the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Adam John Reich
  • Patent number: 11920336
    Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
  • Patent number: 11921794
    Abstract: A communication system provides feedback data for at least one water consuming device. The communication system includes a data collection interface, a controller, and an output interface. The data collection interface is configured to receive user data from at least one collection device. The controller is configured to perform an analysis of the user data from the at least one collection device. The output interface is configured to provide feedback data based on the analysis of the user data to a water consuming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Rafael Rexach, Nona Beining, Alyssa Wilterdink, Shawn Booth, Thomas E. Lilly, Doug Diemel, Jr., Leslie Petch
  • Publication number: 20240068216
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed towards a debris-reducing drain insert 90 for a drain. The debris-reducing drain insert 90 includes a battery to power a cutting component with at least one blade to cut debris as it travels down the drainpipe and prevent clogging of the drain. The debris-reducing drain insert 90 includes a drain cover with a seal such that when in a closed position water and debris cannot flow into the drain opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Andrew Smith, Diego Alejandro Cuervo Ayala, Matthew R. Wegner, Erich D. Slothower, Michael J. Smith, Niels Eilmus
  • Patent number: 11913211
    Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
  • Patent number: 11913207
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes an electrical component insert-molded within a portion of the plumbing fixture, the portion formed from an epoxy. The electrical component is offset from and disposed below an outer surface of the plumbing fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Mark Schibur, Jeremiah Rauwerdink
  • Patent number: 11913200
    Abstract: A faucet includes a spout, a water level sensor, and a controller. The spout includes a water outlet having a first set of nozzles oriented at an angle with respect to a central axis defined by the water outlet such that water discharged from the first set of nozzles converges at the central axis at a focal distance from the water outlet. The water level sensor is disposed on the spout, and is configured to detect a distance between the water outlet and a level of water in a container disposed below the water outlet. The controller is configured to control the flow of water through the water outlet based on a comparison between the detected distance and the focal distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Chanseol Chung
  • Patent number: 11913574
    Abstract: A magnetic joint includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a first plurality of magnets spaced annularly apart from each other. The second member includes a second plurality of magnets spaced annularly apart from each other. The first member is rotatably coupled to the second member. The first member is configured to be coupled to a first component and the second member is configured to be coupled to a second component. The first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets are configured to cooperatively define a plurality of rotational positions between the first component and the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Chanseol Chung
  • Patent number: 11913204
    Abstract: A handshower cradle assembly includes a waterway body, a handshower cradle, and an actuator. The handshower cradle is coupled to the waterway body. The actuator is configured to reduce a flow rate of water through the waterway body in response to a handshower being received within the handshower cradle. In some embodiments, the handshower cradle is configured to engage with the actuator under the weight of the handshower to adjust a position of the actuator with respect to the waterway body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Ball
  • Patent number: 11904329
    Abstract: A showerhead assembly that includes a showerhead housing, a distributor, and a valve layer. The showerhead housing includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the top plate and the bottom plate, where the top plate includes a fluid inlet configured to couple to a fluid source. The distributor includes at least one distributor outlet, and is situated in the showerhead housing. The valve layer includes at least one valve assembly, and is situated in the showerhead housing. The at least one valve assembly is coupled to the bottom plate. The at least one channel of the distributor is further configured to disperse fluid from the fluid inlet to the at least one distributor outlet, and the at least one distributor outlet is coupled to, and configured to disperse fluid to, the at least one valve assembly of the valve layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Pete Kajuch, Joseph Valenti
  • Patent number: 11906990
    Abstract: A water level detection system includes a water containing vessel, an airtight tube fluidly coupled to the water containing vessel, a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the airtight tube, and a water level control unit communicably coupled to the pressure sensor. The water level control unit is configured to control at least one of a height of water within the water containing vessel or a temperature of the water based on pressure data from the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Nameer Shaaban, Jason M. Kwacz
  • Patent number: D1015484
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Margaret C. Mazz, Bojian Han, Gregory de Swarte
  • Patent number: D1016986
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Tory L. Hayner, Gregory de Swarte, Drew Johnson
  • Patent number: D1016990
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Niels J. Eilmus, Evan M. Grybush
  • Patent number: D1017770
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Drew Johnson